Regular Efforts to Ensure Peace and Security in the International Community～Peace Building and Security Issues

Research on New Maritime Security

Implementing Agency

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Year

2/3

Project classification

Self-OperatedGrantCommissionedOthers

Year project budget implementation

18,077,610yen

Project Contents

While the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into force in 1994, provides a basic framework for maintaining maritime order, the various treaties formulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) establish a range of measures for maritime safety, security and environmental protection. However, in recent years threats to maritime security, such as piracy and use of seaways by terrorist groups, in addition to the more conventional problems of transportation of narcotics, human trafficking, and illegal fishing are increasing in frequency, complexity and gravity. Moreover, there is also a strong, growing interest among some countries to establish territorial rights to islands and to demarcate boundaries of EEZs and continental shelves. As a result, tense relations are beginning to flare at the international level. To prevent these problems from developing into military conflicts in the future, the development of a mechanism for resolving such problems and building trust between the countries concerned is essential.

In this project, research will be carried out on two major themes of "Creating a framework for new international and maritime law necessary for strengthening maritime order and "Strengthening of effective regional frameworks of cooperation through maritime safety institutions," with the ultimate aim of making international policy recommendations. Special attention will be paid to the potential role that coast guards or maritime safety institutions could play in strengthening maritime security.

Implementation Plan

Research group meetings in Japan (October 2010 to March 2011)
A ten-member research group consisting of experts in the fields of maritime policy, security, and international law including Dr. Takashi Inoguchi, the President of University of Niigata Prefecture, Prof. Mariko Kawano, School of Law, Waseda University will be assembled in order to conduct research on relevant themes. Meetings of the research group will be held mainly in Tokyo.

Outsourced research (October 2010 to March 2011)
Research topics requiring expert validation over long period of time will be outsourced to external organizations.
In this year, the research on "New Approach to the Law Enforcement against Unlawful Act on the Sea" will be outsourced to Prof. Mariko Kawano, School of Law, Waseda University.

International Committee Meetings (January - February 2011)
In addition to committee members in Japan, about five international committee members (mainly from the United States, England, and Australia) will be invited to attend an international committee meeting in Tokyo around October 2011, for discussions relating to the major research topics of this project.

Activities of the Secretariat (October 2010 to March 2011)
The Secretariat will coordinate and gather information as necessary for the operation of the project.

Project Results

In fiscal 2011, study groups comprised of Japanese experts in the fields of maritime policy, security, and international law met for seven sessions in total. In addition, in December 2011, 12 international experts were invited from the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Singapore and other nations to attend an international committee meeting in Tokyo to discuss the contents of policy recommendations.